Planning starts for commemoration of end of Second World War in Cambridge

Plans are being drawn up to commemorate the end of the Second World War in Cambridge. Pictured at the war memorial in Hills Road are, from left, city council leader Lewis Herbert, Cambridgeshire Regiment standard bearer Wally Rookes, and shadow defence mi

People are being urged to get in touch with ideas about how to commemorate the end of the Second World War in Cambridge.

Next year is the 70th anniversary of the end of the conflict and could possibly be one of the last milestones when significant numbers of wartime servicemen and women are still alive in significant numbers.

Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council are starting to draw up plans to mark the anniversary, with street parties to recapture the spirit of VE Day and VJ Day one of the ideas under consideration.

However, more sombre events to remember the sacrifices made by servicemen and women will also be held – in particular, to remember the suffering of soldiers from the Cambridgeshire Regiment who were sent to Singapore just weeks before it was captured and had to endure misery in captivity.

Planning for the 70th anniversary in the city began with a visit by shadow defence secretary Vernon Coaker, who met city council leader Cllr Lewis Herbert and 87-year-old veteran Wally Rookes, who has been the standard bearer for the Cambridgeshire Regiment for the last 32 years.

Cllr Herbert called for residents to get in touch to tell the councils how they would like the anniversary to be marked.

He said: “We want to encourage involvement from the whole community to mark the anniversary of the end of the Second World War and we particularly want to involve veterans and the families of those brave people who fought but are sadly no longer with us.

“We will make sure schools play a big role in the commemorations to make sure the next generation learns about this important part of our city’s history.

“We will also be involving South Cambridgeshire District Council to make sure the American Cemetery and Duxford play full roles in the commemoration.”

Mr Rookes, of Teversham Drift, Cherry Hinton, welcomed the plans.

The veteran, who signed up in 1942 when he was aged just 16, said: “A lot is being done about the First World War but there’s not a lot done about the Second World War, especially for the blokes who died in the Far East.

“The Cambridgeshire lost nearly 2,000 men out there so they should be remembered.”